Independent participatory media for Iran

Iranian media report that a number of Iranian political prisoners have been granted temporary leave for a Shiite holiday.

The Kaleme website reports that Behzad Nabavi, Feizollah Arabsorkhi and Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, all senior members of Iranian reformist groups, were released on bail.

These reformists figures were all arrested following the protests that sprang up in 2009 to dispute the re-election of Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, which the opposition claims was fraudulent. Nabavi, Arabsorkhi and Ramazanzadeh have been sentenced to prison terms of five to six years for “activities against national security and propaganda against the regime.”

Kaleme reports that jailed student activists Bahareh Hedayat and Mehdieh Golroo were also temporarily released on bail. Opposition sites report their bail as $700,000 for Hedayat and $150,000 for Golroo.

Hedayat is serving nine and a half years in prison for “activities against the regime, insulting officials and activities against national security.” Golroo was sentenced to two years in prison for similar charges.

Media reports also indicate that recently jailed sports journalist Maryam Majd has been released. She was detained in late June just before her planned departure for Germany to cover the women’s World Cup of Soccer.

None of the political prisoners at Rejaishahr Prison in Karaj has been given a furlough for this holiday.